The Visual Arts department at RIC is a creative, lively and enriching environment which encourages its students to thrive; giving them the confidence to explore and develop their own personal style with the support from experienced tutors offering expertise in a wide range of disciplines. Covering a vast range of interests and skills within art, craft and design RIC students have the option to study  Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Photography, Textile Design and Three Dimensional Design at both GCSE and A level. A high number of our students often go on to study Art & Design related subjects at university with students recently accepting places at prestigious institutions such as The Slade, Edinburgh, Falmouth and Central St Martins schools of Art.

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FINE ART – painting and drawing, mixed media, sculpture, land art, installation, printmaking, film, television, animation, video, photography: lens-based and/or light-based media and new media.

Exploring different approaches to recording images, such as observation, analysis, expression and imagination students develop an understanding of the conventions of figurative/representational and abstract/non-representational imagery or genres. Students are encouraged to experiment with a number of practical techniques such as using underpainting, glazing, wash and impasto; modelling, carving, casting, constructing, assembling and welding; etching, engraving, drypoint, mono printing, lino printing, screen printing, photo silkscreen and lithography. Formal elements such as pictorial space, composition, rhythm, scale and structure as well as the appreciation of colour, tone, texture, shape and form are also investigated.

Students explore elements of visual language and a variety of materials and genres by responding to an issue, concept or idea, working to a brief or answering a need. By understanding meaning, function, style, scale, colour and content students build an appreciation of the appropriate use of imagery, typography, signs and symbols. There is also an appreciation of the relationship of form and function, presentation and layout and, where applicable, the constraints of working to a brief and an awareness of intended audience or purpose.

Supporting subjects: Media, Sociology, English, IT and any of the other Art & Design endorsements.

PHOTOGRAPHY – portraiture, landscape photography, still-life photography, documentary photography, photo journalism, experimental imagery, photographic installation, video, television and film.

Students will explore, line, form, colour, pattern and texture in the context of Photography by responding to an issue, theme, concept or idea or work to a brief or answer a need. By showing an appreciation of viewpoint, composition, depth of field and movement; time-based, through such techniques as sequence or ‘frozen moment’ students will investigate use of the camera, film, lenses, filters and lighting for work in their chosen area of Photography

With this students will develop understanding of techniques related to the developing and printing of photographic images, presentation and layout.

Students investigate a variety of textile methods such as fabric printing (mono-printing, relief printing and/or screen printing), tie-dye, batik, spraying, transfer and fabric construction and stitching (appliqué, patchwork, padding, quilting and/or embroidery). With this students develop an awareness of the elements of Textile Design, such as shape, colour, texture, pattern, harmony, contrast and/or repetition and look at the relationship of form and function and, where applicable, the constraints of working to a brief.

Students investigate the relationship of form and function and, where applicable, respond to a concept, work to a brief, theme, topic or answer a need using a variety of working methods such as model-making, constructing and assembling. Developing an appreciation of solid, void, form, shape, texture, colour, decoration, surface treatment, scale, proportion, rhythm and movement in their chosen media students use of a variety of appropriate tools and equipment increasing awareness of the relationship between Three-Dimensional Design and urban, rural and other settings.

Supporting subjects: Drama, Chemistry and any of the other Art & Design endorsements.

Please use the contact page should you have any questions relating to any subject at any level. We can also give you advice on portfolio preparation and a course options in further education.